Overview

• NHL players will return to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014, with a league pause scheduled for Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from February 6 to 22, 2026.
• Leon Draisaitl says the Olympics are a frequent topic among players ahead of the new NHL season.
• Germany’s top forward notes some German NHL players are definite selections for the Games and others have a realistic shot.
• Draisaitl says he did not change his summer program for the Olympics and expects intensity to climb during the midseason window.
• The Edmonton Oilers center starts the season as the world’s highest-paid hockey player after an eight-year, $112 million contract signed last year.